Art of converting hydrocarbon oils



m 1935- :H. R. SNOW ET AL 2,022,985

ART OF CONVERTING HYDROCARBON OILS Filed July 30, 1952 dllllmlllllllluINVENTORS Mama 2. SNOW Y fiwsm Lil/MERIVW ATTORN EY Patented Dec. 3,1935 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Harold R. Snow, Hammond, Ind andRussell L.

Zimmerman,0hicago, Ill., assignors to Standard Oil Company (Indiana),Chicago, 111., a

corporation of Indiana Application July 30, 1932, Serial No. 626,347

'1 Claims. (01.196-122) The present invention relates to the art ofconverting hydrocarbon oils and refers more particularly to improvedmethod and apparatus for effecting the removal of accumulated reactionproducts from certain points within the conversion zone or reactionchamber employed in connection with the conversion of such oils. Theinvention is particularly adapted to be employed for the removal of moreor less solid reaction products, such as coke, carbon, etc., from thevicinity of the outlet of the reaction zone or chamber through which theconverted products are withdrawn and may be used in connection with thereaction zone or chamber employed for the conversion of hydrocarbon oils(in the socalled liquid-phase, vapor-phase or mixed vapor-liquid-phase.

The invention more specifically embraces a fluid operated mechanism, forremoving'such deposits or accumulations, which is operated by fluidsupplied to the conversion system. For example, the fluid may comprise arelatively cool fluid to be employed for the cooling of reactionproducts or it may comprise oil which is to be treated in the system andwhich may also, if-desired, be employed as a cooling agent for thereaction products.

The invention willbe fully understood from the following detaileddescription in conjunction with the accompanying drawing which is asomewhat diagrammatic sectional view of a device embodying the presentinvention for removing accumulated solid reaction products from thevicinity of the outlet of a reaction chamber in which hydrocarbon oilsare subjected to cracking.

Referring more in detail to the drawing, the numeral 5 indicates aportion of the wall of an enlarged reaction chamberin-which hydrocarbonoils are subjected to.cracking or conversion. The wall of the reactionchamber 5 is provided with an opening 6 connected to a conduit 1 securedin a suitable manner tothe exterior of thechamber 5, whereby reactionproducts may be withdrawn from the chamber 5 and passed to any desired45 point. In the particular embodiment illustrated, the upper portion ofthe reaction chamber is adapted to contain hydrocarbon vapors undergoingconversion, the vaporous products of conversion being withdrawn throughthe conduit I 50 and passed to suitable condensing means not shown. Asdisclosed in the copending application of H. R. Snow, Serial .No.428,430 filed February 14, 1930, it is sometimes desirable, with areaction chambencontaining vapors undergoing conversion, to spray arelatively cool fiuidorliquid in the vicinity of the outlet for thevaporous conversion products for the purpose of cooling the reactionproducts and for retarding accumulation of coke and otherreaction'products which tend to obstruct the outlet for such vaporousre- 5 action products. In order to provide such a spray of cool fluid,the interior of the chamber .5 is provided with a line 8 leading from asuitable source of cool fluid or liquid, the outlet of the line 8 beingprovided with an upwardly directed annu- 10 lar spray head 9 disposedbelow the outlet opening 6.

The outlet conduit 1 preferably comprises a four-way or cross fittingI0, one branch ll of which extends downwardly and is connected to 15 thechamber 5 and communicates with the chamber outlet openingv 6. A pair ofhorizontal branches I2 and I3lead from the fitting ID, the branch l2leading to any desired point, for example a fractionating or'condensingmeans, and 20 the branch I3 is preferably closed by means of a blindflange-plate M which may be removed for cleaning purposes. The remainingbranch l5 of the fitting 10 extends vertically and is substantially inalignment with the branch H. The 25 end of the branch I5 is secured toone end of an elongated cylinder 16 the opposite end of which is closedby means of a plate Ilia.

The cylinder I5 is provided with a piston I1 to which is secured adownwardly extending pis- 30 tonor plunger-rod l8. The lower end of theplunger rod I8 extends through a central bore l9 provided in a partitionwall 20 interposed between the branch l5of fitting I0 and the lower endof cylinder I6. The lower end of rod I8 35 carries an enlarged cleaninghead [8a substantially "conforming in section to the interior ofcylinder I6 and pipe II. The length of the plunger rod I8 is preferablysuch that when the head member l8a rests against the lower side of thepartition 20, the piston I! will be slightly spaced from the upper endplate I6a of the cylinder Hi. The bore I 9 in the partition wall 20 ispreferably somewhat largerin cross sectional area than that of theplunger rod l8, whereby a small amount of liquid may flow between therod 18 and the partition 20.

A fluid supply-conduit 2| is connected to the upper end of the cylinderl6 and asecond fluid supply conduit 22 is connected to the lower end ofthe cylinder at a point above the partition plate 20. A fluid supplyline 23 is connected to the branch l5 of the fitting I0 whereby fluidmay be supplied directly into the outlet conduit 1 of the chamber 5inaddition to the liquid sprayed from the member 9, and that which flowspast the plunger-rod I8. The line 22 leads from a suitable source offluid supplied thereto under a suitable pressure. The line 22 isprovided with a valve 2% and is connected on each side thereof tobranch-pipes 25 and 26 provided with valves Z'l andj Zt respectively.The line 26 is connected to the line 22 at a point intermediate valve 24and the point of connection of line 22 with the cylinder l6 and at itsother end is connected to the line 23 leading to the branch l5. The line25 is connected to line 22 at a point on the other side of valve 24 andis connected at its other end to the line 2| leading to the upper end ofthe cylinder I6. The lines 2| and 23 are connected by means of a line 29provided with a valve 30.

In operating in accordance with the invention, a suitable fluid, such asoil, may be supplied under pressure to the lines 23 and 22simultaneously, suflicient pressure being maintained in the cylinder IEon the lower side of piston I! to maintain it in elevated position (asshown). Oil flows into the conduit 1 through line 23, some flowing intothe conduit 1 from the cylinder l6 through the space between the wallsof the bore IS in partition-plate 2G and the plunger rod l8. When it isdesired to force the plunger rod |8 downwardly through branches I5 andII of conduit 1 and the opening 6 and into the reaction chamber 5, toclean pipe I I, valves 24 and 30 may be closed and valves 21 and 28 maybe opened. Oil then passes from line 22 through line 25 to line 2|whereby the piston I I will be forced downwardly in the cylinder l6, andthe body of oil in the cylinder below the piston H is forced out throughline 22 and flows through lines 26 and 23 and discharges into the outletconduit 1. When the piston H has been forced downwardly to the desiredpoint, valves 21' and 28 are closed and valves 24 and 39 are opened. Theoil then flows directly through line 22 into the cylinder l6 belowpiston l1 causing the latter to be forced upwardly, and the body of oilin cylinder l6 above the piston I1 is forced out through'lines 2|, 29,and 23 and is discharged into the conduit 1, and/or chamber 5. When thepiston ll reaches the upper limit of its stroke the valve 30 may beclosed and the valve 28 is partly or entirely opened to permit oil toflow from line 22 to line23 and into conduit It will thus be seen thatat all times fluid, such as ,oil, may be constantly supplied to conduit1 and the fluid so supplied may be utilized to operate the plungercleaning device without substantial interruption of the supply of suchfluid or oil to the conduit].

The device may be employed in connection with any type of a reactionchamber employed in an apparatus to which fluid is supplied fortreatment, 2. portion of the fluid so supplied being employed to.operate the cleaning device. The device is free from packing glands andthe leakage of fluid past the plunger rod I8 functions to keep thedevice 'from being rendered inoperative by heavy reaction productssuchas coke or carbon in the case of treating oil. The device may beemployed in connection with reaction chambers for the liquid, vaporphase or mixed liquid-vapor phase conversion of hydrocarbon oils, anyportion of the liquid oil supplied to the system being employed tooperate the cleaning device for the removal of coke depositions fromthe'vicinity of the outlet of the chamber. 1

Thus in the embodiment shown, the oil employed to operate the device maycomprisea suitable clean fresh 'stock suitable as charging stock for acracking operation. The fresh oil upon its discharge into the reactionchamber 5, or the outlet conduit T, will become vaporized and admix withthe 'vaporous products passing through the conduit 1. These vapors maybe passed to a suitable fractionating operation wherein the fresh oilvapors will be condensed and thereby separated as reflux condensatealong with the insufliciently converted constituents of the vaporousconversion products. This condensate stock may then be passed to thesystem for further con- Version.

It will be understood that the line 23 may be connected to line 8 sothat the fluid may be discharged from line 23 into the interior of thereaction chamber 5 through the nozzle 9, as well as into the conduitmember 1. Thus, a valved line 8 may interconnect the lines 8 and 23 forthis purpose. In order to expedite the operation of the device it may bedesirable to relieve the pressure within the reaction chamber 5 duringthe downward stroke of the piston l1 and the cleaning head |8a. This maybe accomplished in any suitable manner. Thus, the lower portion of thechamber may be provided with an outlet line (not shown) which may beopened to cause the pressure within the interior of the chamber 5 todrop to the desired extent during movement of ing 6.

It will be understood that the area of the head of the piston I! may beconsiderably greater than that of the cleaner head |8a so that a greaterforce may be exerted on the cleaner |8a with a given fluid pressure inthe cylinder 56. Also it will be clear that the cleaner head |8a may beof any desired shape or form and need not necessarily be of the typeshown in the drawing.

The valves 24, 21, 28, and 39 may be operated by inter-connectedmechanism so that for any phase of the operation of the device thevalves may be simultaneously operated.

While the invention has been shown in connection with an outletpassageway of a conversion chamber it is to be understood that it may beemployed as well for the removal of heavy or solid reaction productsfrom any passageway through which hydrocarbons are passed while atconversion temperature. For example, the cleaning device of the presentinvention may be employed in connection with the inlet passageway ortransfer line through which hydrocarbons heated to reaction temperatureare passed into a reaction zone or chamber.

We claim:

1. An apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from the outletconduit of a reaction chamaction products from said outlet conduit,fluiddisplaceable means within said second chamber and connected to saidelongated member for effecting said movement of said member upondisplacement of said means, and means for supplying fluid to said secondchamber for displacing said displaceable means, said elongated memberhaving a cross-sectional area substantially .smaller than thecross-sectional area of the said opening in said partition whereby saidfluid supplied to said second chamber may flow past the said elongatedmember and into the said outlet conduit.

2. An apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from the outletconduit of an oil conversion chamber comprising a cylinder exterior ofsaid oil conversion chamber and in alignment with said outlet conduit, apiston within said cylinder, means for periodically supplying oil toalternate sides of said piston, means for simultaneously withdrawing oilfrom the opposite side of said piston to thereby actuate the same, acleaning element positioned within the outlet conduit, connecting meansbetween said piston and said cleaning element to cause movement of saidcleaning element when said piston is actuated and means for deliveringoil withdrawn from the cylinder into the oil conversion chamber im--mediately adjacent the outlet conduit.

3. An apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from the outletconduit of an oil conversion chamber comprising a cylinder exterior ofsaid oil conversion chamber and directly connected to said outletconduit, a partition wall having a central opening interposed betweensaid cylinder and said conduit, a piston within said cylinder, means foralternately supplying oil under pressure to said cylinder at oppositesides of said piston, means for alternately withdrawing oil from theside of said piston opposite that to which the oil is being supplied tothereby reciprocate said piston, means for discharging said withdrawnoil into the conversion chamber, a

plunger disposed in the outlet conduit and normally positioned out ofthe path of the products being withdrawn therefrom and a piston rodconnecting said piston with said plunger and extending through thecentral opening of said partition to thereby reciprocate said plungerthrough said conduit and into the reaction chamber.

4. An apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from the outletconduit of a reaction chamber, adapted to contain hydrocarbon oilmaintained at conversion temperature, which comprises a cylinderexterior of the chamber and having one of its ends opening into theinterior of the conduit and its other end closed, a partition-wallinterposed between said cylinder and the conduit and having an openingtherethrough, an elongated member having cleaning means connectedthereto within said cylinder and extending through the opening in saidpartition-wall into the said conduit, said cleaning means connected tosaid member being adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated outwardly ofsaid cylinder through said conduit and into said reaction chamber andback into said cylinder, thereby removing accumulated reaction productsfrom said outlet conduit, a piston within said cylinder and secured tosaid elongated member, means for alternately supplying fluid underpressure to said cylinder to either side of said piston, therebyreciprocating said piston and said elongated member, and means fordischarging the fluid supplied to said cylinder into the said conduit,said elongated member having a cross-sectional area substantiallysmaller than the cross-sectional area of said opening in saidpartition-wall whereby said fluid supplied to said cylinder may flowpast the said elongated member and into the said conduit.

5. A cleaning apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from theoutlet conduit of an oil conversion chamber comprising cleaning meansadapted to traverse said conduit, and means for continuously supplyingoil to said conduit, with means for effecting the traversing and movingof said cleaning means by the oil supplied to said conduit, said meanscomprising a piston chamber communicating with said conduit, a pistonwithin said chamber and adapted to operate the cleaning means, conduitscommunicating with the interior of said chamber at opposite ends thereofwhereby oil may be supplied to either side of said piston, linesconnecting said conduits with the means for introducing oil into theconduit for conversion products and with a source of supply for the oil,and valve control means in said lines whereby oil may be supplied to oneside of the piston to cause movement thereof and to cause oil dischargedfrom the other side of the piston to enter said means for supplying oilto the said conduit for conversion products.

6. A cleaning apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from theoutlet conduit of a reaction chamber adapted to contain hydrocarbon oilmaintained at conversion temperature, comprising a cylinder exterior ofsaid chamber and having one of its ends opening into the interior ofsaid conduit and its other end closed, a partition wall interposedbetween said cylinder and said conduit and having 'an openingtherethrough, an elongated member having cleaning means connectedthereto within said cylinder and extending through the opening in saidpartition-wall into the said conduit, said cleaning means connected tosaid member being adapted to be longitudinally reciprocated through saidconduit and into said reaction chamber, thereby removing accumulatedreaction products from said outlet conduit, a piston within saidcylinder and secured to said elongated member, means for alternatelysupplying fluid under pressure to said cylinder to either side of saidpiston, thereby reciprocating said piston and said elongated member, andmeans for discharging the fluid supplied to said cylinder into the saidreaction chamber, said elongated member having a cross-sectional areasubstantially smaller than the crosssectional area of said opening insaid partitionwall whereby said fluid supplied to said cylinder may flowpast the said elongated member and into the said conduit.

'7. An apparatus for removing accumulated deposits from a conduitleading from an oil conversion chamber, wherein the conduit changes itsdirection immedately upon leaving the chamber, comprising a tubularextension leading fromsaid conduit in alignment with the mouth thereof,a closure plate for the end of said extension, said closure plate andextension forming a recess in direct communication with said conduit,aplunger normally positioned in said recess, means for operating saidplunger to dislodge deposits from the mouth of said outlet and means forintroducing a stream of relatively cool hydrocarbon oil into said recessto prevent said plunger from being rendered inoperative by deposition ofreaction products within said recess.

HAROLD R. SNOW. RUSSELL L. ZIMMERMAN.

